India bat first vs Australia in 1st ODI; debutants Nitish Reddy, Mitch Owen, Matt Renshaw shine; Kohli returns to Perth. Photos: X.
India is batting first in the opening ODI against Australia after Mitch Marsh won the toss and opted to field. The match features several fresh faces on both sides, with India debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy making his international ODI debut. Australia, meanwhile, will hand opportunities to two newcomers, Mitch Owen and Matt Renshaw.
Despite concerns over weather, rain has stayed away so far, though forecasts suggest conditions may change as the day progresses.
India’s fans have something to cheer about despite another toss loss, India has now lost 16 consecutive ODI tosses. The wait to see captain Rohit Sharma, and soon former Test skipper Virat Kohli, at the crease will not be long.
The three debutants, Nitish Reddy for India and Mitch Owen and Matt Renshaw for Australia, bring fresh energy to the match. India will look to its young opener to provide a steady start, while Australia hopes their new additions can strengthen the batting line-up.
A key feature of this game is the clash between Virat Kohli and Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.
The numbers back up Hazlewood’s dominance over Kohli in ODIs. In nine previous encounters, Hazlewood has dismissed Kohli five times. Kohli’s batting average of 11.60 and strike rate of 59.18 against the Australian pacer highlight the challenges he faces, often being forced to defend rather than attack. These statistics underscore Hazlewood’s ability to control and contain one of the game’s finest batsmen.
Speaking to Adam Gilchrist and Ravi Shastri before the match at Optus Stadium, Virat Kohli reflected on his return to cricket after retiring from Tests.
“A place I’ve really enjoyed my cricket in. Hard fought cricket with so many battles. If you play cricket hard enough, even if you’re in the face of your opposition you gain their respect. I really enjoy coming to Perth, some beautiful pace and bounce to enjoy.
It’s been a long time off for me since I retired from Tests, just catching up on life. Being able to spend some quality time with kids, family at home is something I’ve enjoyed.”
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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